Ligularia plant named ‘Laternchen’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Ligularia  plant named ‘Laternchen’, characterized by its relatively compact and short plant habit; freely flowering habit; golden yellow ray and disc florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Ligularia×Hessei cultivarLaternchen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLigularia plant, botanically known as Ligularia×Hessei, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Laternchen.

The new Ligularia is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of theLigularia×Hessei cultivar Gregynog Gold, not patented. The new Ligulariawas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant within apopulation of plants of the cultivar Gregynog Gold in a controlledenvironment in Borken-Marbech, Germany, in 1996.

A sexual reproduction of the new cultivar by divisions atBorken-Marbech, Germany since 1996, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Ligularia are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Laternchen have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light level without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Laternchen’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Lanternchen’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofLigularia:

-   -   1. Relatively compact and short plant habit.    -   2. Freely flowering habit.    -   3. Golden yellow ray and disc florets.    -   4. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Ligularia are most similar to plants of the parent,the cultivar Gregynog. Compared to plants of the cultivar Gregynog Goldand other cultivars of Ligularia known to the Inventor, plants of thenew Ligularia are more compact, shorter and differ in inflorescenceshape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Ligularia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Laternchen’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a sideperspective view of a typical vegetative plant of ‘Laternchen’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of atypical vegetative plant of ‘Laternchen’.

The photograph at the top of the third sheet is a close-up view of atypical inflorescence of ‘Laternchen’.

The photograph at the bottom of the third sheet is a close-up view of atypical leaf of ‘Laternchen’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Lisse, The Netherlands, in an outdoor nurseryand under commercial production practices during the summer. Plants weregrown in 17-cm containers and were about one year old when thephotographs and description were taken. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from 14 to 31° C. and night temperaturesranged from 4 to 16° C. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Ligularia×Hessei cultivar Laternchen.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the    Ligularia×Hessei cultivar Gregynog Gold, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By divisions.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 days at 14° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 40 days at 20°            C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Perennial flowering plant. Compact and            upright plant habit; narrowly inverted triangle; moderately            vigorous growth habit. Single inflorescence form; basal            leaves in a rosette.        -   Plant height.—About 67 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 33.7 cm.        -   Number of flowering stems per plant.—About three.        -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 46 cm. Diameter:            About 5 mm. Internode length: About 14.8 cm. Aspect: Erect.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: N186C.            Lenticels: Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 0.3 mm. Color:            143A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Basal leaves; rosette;            flowering stem leaves, alternate; simple. Quantity: Basal            leaves: About 20 per plant. Flowering stem leaves: About            three per stem. Leaf length: About 12.3 cm. Leaf width:            About 14.2 cm. Shape: Roughly triangular to reniform. Apex:            Acute. Base: Hastate to reniform. Margin: Serrate. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation            pattern: Reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper            surface: 144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Between 137A and 146A;            margins, close to 59A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:            137C. Venation, upper surface: 176A to 176B. Venation, lower            surface: 177C to 177D. Petiole: Length: Basal leaves: About            24.4 cm. Flowering stem leaves: About 13.2 cm. Diameter:            About 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely            pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 177A;            longitudinal stripes, 143B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Single inflorescence form with linear to            narrowly oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences terminal            and axillary. Disk and ray florets develop acropetally on a            capitulum. Inflorescences slightly fragrant. Inflorescences            face upright to slightly outwardly. Inflorescences            persistent.        -   Flowering response.—In The Netherlands, plants flower            continuously from June to early August.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good color            and substance of about four weeks on the plant.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—About 22 inflorescences and            inflorescence buds per flowering stem.        -   Inflrescence bud.—Height: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About            5 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 144B; towards the apex, 13A.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 12.7 cm.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.1 cm.        -   Diameter of disc.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Receptacle height.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Ray florets.—Shape: Linear to narrowly oblong. Aspect:            Reflexed; somewhat twisted. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width:            About 7 mm. Apex: Retuse to emarginate. Base: Obtuse.            Margin: Entire: Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray            florets per inflorescence: About seven in a single whorl.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 12A to 9A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 12A to 12B. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 9A to 12A. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 12A.        -   Disc florets.—Arrangement: Massed at center of receptacle.            Shape: Tubular, salverform. Apex: Five-pointed. Length:            About 1.1 cm. Diameter, apex: About 4 mm. Diameter, base:            About 2 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About 14. Color: Immature: 153A to 153B. Apex: 9A to 9B.            Mid-section: 2B. Base: 1A to 2B.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About eight in a            single whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 1.8 mm.            Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 144B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: Terminal peduncle: About 1.2 cm. Fourth            peduncle: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle to            vertical: About 20° from vertical. Strength: Moderately            strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 177A;            longitudinal stripes, 143B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamens per floret: About            two. Filament color: N199B. Anther shape: Linear. Anther            length: About 2 mm. Anther color: 17B. Pollen amount:            Scarce. Pollen color: 17B. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About            5 mm. Style length: About 3 mm. Style color: 17D. Stigma            color: 17C. Ovary color: 144C. Pappus: Appearance:            Hair-like; fine. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: Less than            1 mm. Color: 199C.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Ligularias has not been observed on plants grown under commercial    greenhouse or outdoor nursery conditions.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Ligularia have been observed    to be rain and wind tolerant and to tolerate USDA Hardiness Zone 5    and high temperatures to at least 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ligularia plant named ‘Laternchen’, asillustrated and described.